According to the company’s chief executive Robin Li, over the coming 3-5 years Baidu will create software that offers a web search box within a second of starting mobile phone or tablet computer. From what I’ve understood, we’re not talking about an Android-like platform, rather Baidu wants to develop something like Chrome OS.

Mr Li said: “Right now when you power on an iPhone, it takes 45 seconds before you can do anything. In the future, one second, you turn on the device, and you can start using the box. That’s our mission for the future of the internet.”

He went on talking about the goal to transform the search box into a universal computing tool that could replace all other interfaces. “The goal is to let people become increasingly dependent on the Baidu box,” he added.